Portable electrically operated fan and light



Nov. 28, 1961 A. MANDELSTAM PORTABLE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FAN AND LIGHTFiled Nov. 27, 1959 .INVENTOR.

A MANDELSTAM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,010,645 PORTABLEELECTRICALLY OPERATED FAN AND LIGHT Abraham Mandelstam, 40 W. 72nd St.,New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 855,794 Claims. (Cl.230-2495) This invention relates primarily to a combined portableelectrically operated fan and light, wherein the electrical energy issupplied from dry batteries or cells of the type commonly used inflashlights.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device ofthe above type that may be used in the manner of the conventionalflashlight for illumination or as a portable fan for movement of air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a devicehaving a casing somewhat similar to that of the conventional flashlightfor containing the dry cell batteries and electric motor for operatingthe fan, with the light bulb located at one end of the casing as in theconventional manner, combined with a folding fan which when not in usemay be folded into a compact unit along the side of the casing.

Thus the unit when not in use as a fan can be folded up and take uplittle more space than an ordinary flashlight.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide anarrangement whereby the folded fan may be opened toextend in a radialdirection from the casing and be operated back and forth from the motorcontained in the casing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described that may be easily and cheaply manufactured andwhich contains a minimum number of operating parts.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent in the following detailed description ofthe preferred form thereof wherein reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, in the latter of which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an'elevational view partly in section with the fan in an openoperative position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram.

Referring first to FIG. 2, the casing 11 of the device has a hollowtubular shape similar to that of a conventional flashlight and has a cap12 at its lower end. The cap \1 2, as is the usual arrangement, may bethreaded to the lower end of the casing and permits the batteries or drycells 13 contained within the casing to be replaced when necessary. Thecasing 11 is of sufficient length to contain a number of dry cells 13,as for example, two, three, or more.

Located within the casing 11 and suitably supported adjacent the upperend thereof is a small electric motor indicated generally by referencenumeral 14. The motor 14 has an armature 16 with a vertical shaft 17journaled at its upper end in a bushing 15 supported in a fixed circularplate 18. Secured for rotation therewith to the upper end of the shaft17 is a disk 19 which has a pin 21 extending upwardly from its upperface. The pin 21 is off center in the disk 19 so that its path describeda circle as the disk rotates.

To the left of the center of the plate 18, as shown in FIG. 2, islocated a shoulder screw 22 upon which is pivoted the left hand end of achannel shaped unit 23. A spacing collar 24 on the screw 22 holds thechannel shaped unit adjacent the screw head. The web or central "icesection of the channel shaped unit 23, as best shown in FIG. 3, has anelongated slot 25 therein through which the pin 21 extends, and sincethe pin is offset from the center of the disk 19, the unit 23 will rockor oscillate back and forth on the shoulder screw 22 through aconsiderable angle as the motor shaft 17 rotates. This rocking of theunit 23 is in a horizontal plane when the casing 11 is held upright, asshown in FIG. 2. It will be noted that the unit 23 rocks or oscillateswith a simple harmonic motion through the described arrangement whichgives a smooth and quiet operating device.

A shoulder screw 26 is threaded from the underside into the central websection of the unit 23 and extends through an arcuate slot 27, FIG. 2,in an arcuate member 28. The central portion of arcuate member 28 israised to provide clearance spaced between its underside and the uppersurface of the plate 18 for the head of screw 26. The arcuate member issecured to the upper face of the disk 18 by screws 29, and its arcuateslot 27 cooperates with the shoulder screw 26 to assist in guiding thechannel shaped unit 23 in its back and forth movements.

The vertical side sections of the channel shaped unit ,23 extendsomewhat higher at the free or right end, and

mounted therein is a pivot pin 31. The web section of the unit 23 is cutaway below the pin 31 for purposes hereinafter apparent, andindentations 32 and 33 are formedin each of these sides which serve todetent the fan as will be described in both its operating and closedpositions.

Pivotally mounted at its inner end on the pin 31 between the ends of thechannel unit 23 is an elongated channel shaped member 34. The member 34is provided with a pair of tabs 36 adjacent its inner end, each of whichhave an indentation therein adapted to cooperate with the indentations32 and 33 to detent the member 34 in either its horizontal position asshown by the full outline thereof in FIG. 2 or in its vertical positionalongside the casing 11, as shown by the dashed outline.

Pivotally attached by pins 37 and links 38 to the free end of the member34 is a slightly shorter second channel member 39.

The channels of the two members 34 and 39 face each other when alongsidethe casing 11 or in the position shown by their dashed outline, andcontained therein is the folded fan 41. When it is desired to unfold thefan 41, the two channel members 34 and 39 which are latched together bylatch 42 are pivoted outwardly on the pin 31 to a substantiallyhorizontal position. The latch 42 is then unhooked and the secondchannel member 39 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction in avertical plane with the pins 37 and links 38 serving as pivots throughsubstantially a full circle or until its web section rests on the websection of member 34. Such a position of the two members 34 and 39 areshown in full in FIG. 2 and the two may be latched in this position bythe latch 42.

The fan 41 contained within the channel members 34 and 39, when the twoare closed, unfolds to form a substantially flat circular fan as thesecond channel member is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction. Thefan 41 may include a plurality of small rods 43 pivotally mounted on thepins 37 to stiffen the same and facilitate the folding thereof back intothe channel members 34 and 39.

With the fan 41 in its unfolded position, as shown, the switch 44 may beoperated to complete the circuit to the motor 14 whereupon its rotationthrough the described elements causes the fan to oscillate back andforth about the screw 22. Such operation of the fan 41 will produce 49in the manner of the conventional flashlight.

a movement of air in much the same manner as a. flat hand fan when usedin the conventional manner.

When it is desired to close the fan, the latch 42 is operated to unlatchthe two members 34 and 39 whereupon member 39 can be rotated in aclockwise direction and relatched against the under side of the member34.

The two members 34 and '39 may then be folded down against the casing 11to from a compact unit where they are held by the detenting action ofthe indentations adjacent the pivot pin 31.

The casing '11 has threaded to its upper end a cap 46 adapted to hold alens 47, reflector 48, and light bulb A circuit is completed to the bulb49 by switch 51, as indicated in the wiring diagram, FIG. 4, and theunit may thus be used as a regular flashlight. The casing 11 is providedwith an extension 52 having sides 53 adjacent the free end of channelunit 23 which enclose the mechanism to a degree to prevent damagethereto.

From the above it will be apparent that the present invention providesan extremely useful and handy device that may be used both as a fan anda flashlight, and when the fan is folded up the device takes up littlemore space than a conventional flashlight.

While the invention has been shown and described in but a singleembodiment thereof, it will be ovious that various modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is desired therefore that only such limitations beplaced thereon as are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the type described, an elongated cylindrical casinghaving an electric motor and battery means for driving the motorcontained therein, a pivot member pivotally mounted adjacent one endthereof within said casing and arranged for oscillating movement by saidmotor, a first channel member pivotally attached at one end thereof tothe other end of said pivot member, a second channel member pivotallyattached at one end thereof tothe other end of said first channelmember, means including the pivotal attachments of said first and secondchannel members to enable said members to fold against the side of saidcasing and contain within the channels thereof a folded fan, the pivotalattachment between said first channel member and said pivot memberenabling said first and second channel members to pivot about the end ofsaid pivot member to extend substantially radially from said casing, thepivotal attachment between said two channel members enabling said secondchannel member in said extendedposition to pivot about the free end ofsaid first channel member to unfold said fan into a. substantiallycircular disk to oscillate with said pivot member. I

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and includ ing detent meansfor detenting. said channel members in a folded up position along theside of said casing and also in a position extending radially in a fanoperative position from said casing.

3. Thecombination as set forth in claim 1 and including means foroscillating said pivot member in a simple harmonic motion by powersupplied from said motor.

4. A portable electric fan comprising a casing for containing anelectric motor and'a battery for driving the motor, a substantially fiatand circular foldable fan, a pair of channel member associated with saidfan, pivotal means associated with said channel members, means includingsaid pivotal means and said channel members for supporting said fan inan unfolded position spaced away from said casing and in a folded upposition alongside said casing, and means including said motor foroperating said channel members with said fan unfolded in an oscillatingmotion with said fan surface substantially normal to the plane of motionof the channel members.

5. The combination of a cylindrical type flashlight having anilluminable light bulb at one end and a foldable fan driven by a motorcontained within said casing, said motor and light bulb being suppliedby electrical energy from batteries also contained within said casing,supporting means or said fan enabling the same in closed position tofold up along side of said casing, said supporting means also enablingsaid folded fan to extend substantially radially from said casing and tothereupon be unfolded to form a substantially fiat circular air movingsurface, and means including said motor to oscillate said open fan in apath substantially normal to the surface thereof.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSProhaczka Oct. 20.

